Folding box.



- J. W. PUTNAM.

FOLDING BOX.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

ibbon m3 I JOSEPH W. PUTNAM, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application filed April 12, 1909. Serial No. 489,251.

To all whom'it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of l\:[ichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in folding boxes,'and its object is to provide a box that can be very quickly opened and adjusted for use; to provide improved means for holding the cover or closure in place, and to provide the device with various new and useful features, hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective of a device cinbodying my invention adjusted for use; Fig. 2 a detail of one end of the same partially folded for storage or otherwise; Fig. 3 is-a detail in vertical section of a portion of the box and cover attached thereto; and, Fig. 4 a detail in plan view of one end of the box adjusted as in Fig. 1.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

1 represents the bottom, 2 the sides, and 3 the ends of a folding box. The sides and ends at the respective corners are connected by integral folding triangular members 5 and 6, each COIlSlStiIlg of equal right-angled triangles which together form, when spread but flat, a rectangular or square portion, each side of which is equal to the width of the side and end portions. The triangular portion,-adjacent to the end 3, is folded upon the same and secured thereto by any convenient fastening means, preferably a staple fastener 8-. This fastener being applied by first inserting the same through both triangles and the end, the outer triangle 5 tirst having a circular portion 7 nearly or quite severed from the same, whereby the said severed portion serves as a washer for the fastener, and the triangle 5 is released.

\Vhen folded and. out of use, the ends 23 are first turned inward and the two triangles at each corner opened out-in the same plane between the ends and the sides as illustrated in Fig. 2. The structure thus folds down substantially flat and thin for storage or transportation.

To strengthen the upper edges of the sides, which are usually longer than the ends and to also serve as locking members, the sides are extended as at i and folded'iuward and downward upon the inside of the sides and secured by any convenient means, preferably staples 9 located at a sufficient distance from the ends to permit the free corners of the extensions to spring slightly inward. This folded portion serves as a locking member by engaging the inner surface of the ends 3 which are held in vertical position thereby when the device is opened up. The cover or closure of the box is made in the same way and enough larger to go freely outside of the box proper, and is detachably secured place thereon by fasteners preferably made of thin strips of metal folded to form outwardly projecting downwardly inclined hooks 10 which engage the inner edge of the folded members l, as illustrated in Fig. 3,;and thus hold the cover or closure securely in place. This strip forming the hook 10, is also folded and extended upward as at 11, and thus holds the hook in position, and the respective ends of the strip are inserted through the side of the box and oppositely clenched upon the inner surface of the same as at 12, thus sccurely holding the hook in place and in clined outward as illustrated. The closure is readily released by manually springing the lower edges of the same outward until free from the hooks.

Particular attention is called to the manner in which this device is opened up for use by a practically automatic movement. llerctoforc in folding boxes one objection thereto is the time required to adjust the box for use, which usually requires that the fastening devices shall each be manually ad justed, usually at each one of the four corners of the box. In the construction shown, all that is required is to engage the lingers with the upper edges of the respeidive end members and simultaneously pull them upward and outward in opposite directions to the vertical position. 'lhey will thus readily pass the ends of the folded m cmbers 4 and be simultaneously engaged thereby at all four corners without any further or special manipulation. The box is thus instan- I position, connecting corner portions between taneously adjusted for use, which is of great the sides and ends foldable into two superadvantage in this class of goods. posed right-angled triangles upon. the outlVhat I claim is side of the ends and supporting the same.

1. A folding box, comprising a side and against outward movement, means for perend adapted to fold inward and to turn from i manently securing the inner trian 'les to the horizontal to vertical position, a square inends, extensions on the upper edges of the tegral connecting portion between the same I foldable into two superposed right-angled i also secured thereto and adapted at their triangles upon the outside of the end, the ends to automatically engage the inner sides outer triangle having a portion severed of the ends and hold the same in vertical therefrom to form a washer, and a staple I position. extending through the washer, the inner 5. A folding box, comprising a bottom, triangle and the end and securing the same ends and sides adapted tofold inward upon to each other. the same and also to turn to a vertical posi- 2. A folding box, comprising a bottom, tion, square connecting portions between the sides and ends foldable inward upon the ends and sides at the respective corners of bottom and adapted to turn to a position at the box, said portions being foldable into right angles to the same, extensions upon two superposed right-angled triangles upon the upper edges of the sides folded inward the outside of the ends, a portion of the and secured with their free corners adapted outer triangle being severed therefrom, fasto spring inward and engage the ends to tenings extending through said severed porthe ends for adjustably connecting the ends edges of the sides folded inward upon the and sides at their adjacent ends and support same and adapted to engage and hold the ing the ends against outward movement. ends in vertical position. 3. A folding box, comprising a bottom, 6. A folding box, comprising a box, a integral sides and ends foldable inward closure for the same having inwardly pro jecting shoulders, a strip of sheet metal ward to a vertical position, a square intefo ded upon itself to form ahook member gral portion at each corner folded into two thence extended oppositely from the book the box, one of said triangles being secured thence folded upon itself and having its to the end of the box and supporting the ends extending through the side of the box same against outward movement when in and clenched upon the inner surface thereof. Vertical position, and extensions on the up-' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature per edges of the sides folded inward and in presence of two Witnesses.

adapted to en age the inner surface of the I ends and hold i'liem in vertical position. JOSEPH PUTNAM' 4. A folding box, comprising a bottom, Witnesses: sides and ends adapted to fold inward upon GEORGIANA CHACE,

the same and to turn upward to a vertical MINNIE Jo iNsoN. 

